Captive push-on fastener with optional auxiliary frame mount

Abstract

A captive fastener for use with eyeglass assemblies is disclosed. The captive fastener comprises at least one fastening member which includes a first end and a second end. The first end comprising a hollow member with an inner cavity volume that is adapted for receiving an aciculate end of a first component of an eyeglass assembly. The hollow member has an outer volume that is defined to be inserted into a second component of the eyeglass assembly having an opening therein, for removeably fastening together the first component with the second component. The captive fastener also comprises a stopping collar formed around the outer volume of the hollow member between the first end of the fastening member and the second end of the fastening member for defining an insertable depth by the first end of the fastening member into the opening of the second member.

1 . A captive fastener for use with eyeglass assemblies, the captive fastener comprising: 
 at least one fastening member including: 
 a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a hollow member with an inner cavity volume adapted for receiving an aciculate end of a first component of an eyeglass assembly, the hollow member with an outer volume defined to be inserted into a second component of the eyeglass assembly having an opening therein, for removeably fastening together the first component with the second component; and  
 a stopping collar formed around the outer volume of the hollow member between a first end of the fastening member and a second end of the fastening member for defining an insertable depth by the first end of the fastening member into the opening of the second member, whereby the aciculate end of the first component passes completely through the opening of the second member.  
   
   
   
       2 . The captive fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the stopping collar is formed the second end of the fastening member for defining an insertable depth by the first end of the fastening member into the opening of the second member, whereby the aciculate end of the first component passes completely through the opening of the second member.  
   
   
       3 . The captive fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the first component of the eyeglass assembly comprises one of: 
 a nose bridge;    a nose pad;    a nose pad arm;    a temple piece;    an extension arm;    a frame; and    an ear stem.    
   
   
       4 . The captive fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the second component of the eyeglass assembly having an opening therein comprises one of: 
 a lens;    a nose bridge;    a nose pad arm;    a temple piece;    an ear stem; and    a frame.    
   
   
       5 . The captive fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the aciculate end of the first component includes threads.  
   
   
       6 . The captive fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow member of the first end of the fastening member is prevented from passing completely through the opening of the second component by the stopping collar.  
   
   
       7 . The captive fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the at least one fastening member has at least one magnetic member disposed thereon.  
   
   
       8 . The captive fastener of  claim 7 , wherein the first component is a nose bridge and the second component is one of: 
 a frame; and    a lens;    wherein the first end of the fastening member removeably fastens together an aciculate end of the nose bridge with the second component so that the magnetic member of the second end of the fastening member is positioned on a side of the second component opposite the nose bridge.    
   
   
       9 . The captive fastener of  claim 7 , wherein the first component is an ear stem and the second component is a temple piece, and wherein the first end of the fastening member removeably fastens together an aciculate end of the ear stem with the temple piece so that the magnetic member of the second end of the fastening member is disposed on a first portion of the second component opposite of a second portion of the second component into which the aciculate end of the ear stem was inserted into the second component.  
   
   
       10 . The captive fastener of  claim 9 , wherein the first component is a temple piece and the second component is one of at: 
 a frame;    a lens; and    an ear stem, wherein the first end of the fastening member removeably fastens together at least one aciculate end of the temple piece so that the magnetic member of the second end of the fastening member is positioned on a first portion of the second component opposite of a second portion of the second component into which the aciculate end of the temple piece was inserted into the second component.    
   
   
       11 . The captive fastener of  claim 7 , wherein the eyeglass assembly is a set of primary spectacles, and wherein the magnetic member couples a set of auxiliary spectacles to the set of primary spectacles.  
   
   
       12 . The captive fastener of  claim 7 , wherein the eyeglass assembly is a set of auxiliary spectacles, and wherein the magnetic member couples the set of auxiliary spectacles to a set of primary spectacles.  
   
   
       13 . The captive fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the frame is one of: 
 half-rim;    full-rim;    rim-less; and    partial-rim.    
   
   
       14 . The captive fastener of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is one of: 
 half-rim;    full-rim;    rim-less; and    partial-rim.    
   
   
       15 . The captive fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the frame is one of: 
 a primary frame; and    an auxiliary frame for removeably attaching the frame to another frame.    
   
   
       16 . Auxiliary spectacles for use in conjunction with primary spectacles, the auxiliary spectacles comprising: 
 at least one receiving component having at least one opening therein;    at least one insertable component including at least one aciculate end; and    at least one captive fastener comprising:    at least one fastening member including:    a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a hollow member with an inner cavity volume adapted for receiving the aciculate end of the insertable component, the hollow member with an outer volume defined to be inserted into the opening of the receiving component, for removeably fastening together the receiving component with the insertable component; and    a stopping collar formed around the outer volume of the hollow member between the first end of the fastening member and the second end of the fastening member for defining an insertable depth by the first end of the fastening member into the opening of the receiving component.    
   
   
       17 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one receiving component comprises one of: 
 a frame; and    at least one lens;    
   
   
       18 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one insertable component comprises one of: 
 a nose bridge;    a pair of hinged extension arms; and    a frame.    
   
   
       19 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one lens is one of: 
 polarized;    shaded;    colored;    clear;    auto graying; and    at least partially magnified.    
   
   
       20 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 16 , wherein the aciculate end of the insertable component includes threads.  
   
   
       21 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 16 , wherein the fastening member comprises two fastening members.  
   
   
       22 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 16 , wherein the hollow member of the first end of the fastening member is prevented from passing completely through the opening of the receiving component by the stopping collar.  
   
   
       23 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 16 , wherein each hinged extension arm of the pair of hinged extension arms includes an outer end with at least one of; 
 at least one magnetic member; and    a forked member disposed thereon.    
   
   
       24 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more magnetic members of the hinged extension arms magnetically couple the auxiliary spectacles to primary spectacles, the primary spectacles including: 
 at least a first component and at least as second component removeably fastened together by a primary frame captive fastener, the primary frame captive fastener having at least one magnetic member disposed thereon for magnetically coupling the primary spectacles to the auxiliary spectacles.    
   
   
       25 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 23 , wherein the forked member removeably couples the auxiliary spectacles to the primary spectacles, the primary spectacles including: 
 at least a first component and at least a second component removeably fastened together by a primary frame captive fastener; and 
 a pair of magnetic sleeves covering at least one of the first component and the second component, wherein the magnetic sleeves are disposed so that a portion of the at least one of the first component and the at least second component is exposed for receiving the forked member thereon; so that the auxiliary spectacles are removeably coupled to the primary spectacles by the forked member.  
   
   
   
       26 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 18 , wherein the pair of hinged extension arms pivotally mounts the auxiliary spectacles on the primary frame so that the auxiliary spectacles can be positioned in a least two positions including: 
 a first position which is in a vision path of a user; and    a second position which is at least partially outside the vision path of the user.    
   
   
       27 . The auxiliary spectacles of  claim 24 , wherein the one and more magnetic members of the pair of hinged extension arms comprises at least one of: 
 at least one insertable member; and    at least one magnetic member, wherein the one or more insertable members and the magnetic member are formed to removeably fasten with magnetic member disposed on the captive fasteners of the primary spectacles.